It received 14 Goya nominations and is on Netflix: Luis Tosar's film that was a hit and is a must-see.

Spanish cinema has long made its mark on Netflix. Films like Modelo 77 , As Bestas , and El Buen Patrón have arrived on the platform to critical and commercial acclaim , but one stands out for its emotional impact and its ability to stir consciences. Starring Luis Tosar and Blanca Portillo, this film not only entertains but also invites reflection. And now you can watch it at home, no excuses.

Released in theaters in 2021, Maixabel received 14 Goya Award nominations and took home three key statuettes: Best Leading Actress for Blanca Portillo, Best Supporting Actor for Urko Olazabal , and Best New Actress for María Cerezuela. Since then, it has been a constant source of buzz, whether at festivals, panel discussions, or now on Netflix.

The film, directed by Icíar Bollaín and written with Isa Campo , is based on a true story that marked a generation. The story tells of the meeting between Maixabel Lasa , widow of Basque politician Juan Mari Jáuregui, assassinated by ETA in 2000, and one of the former members of the commando that ended his life. Years after the attack, this man—played by Luis Tosar—requests a meeting with her from prison, as part of a restorative justice process carried out in the Nanclares de la Oca prison in Álava.

One of the most striking elements of the shoot is that Luis Tosar and Blanca Portillo didn't meet before filming the face-to-face scenes , with the intention of maintaining the emotional tension of the moment. This creative decision ensured that the characters' first on-screen encounter was also the first between the actors, which gave every silence and glance a sense of truth.

Portillo also committed himself to the role in an extreme way: he shaved his head and worked directly with the real Maixabel Lasa to replicate her gestures, her way of speaking, and her way of looking at the world.

The setting is another strong point. Some scenes were filmed in Tolosa and Lasarte , towns closely linked to the protagonists' past. The locations chosen to recreate the prison and everyday places in Maixabel help construct a story that doesn't simply dramatize the past, but rather focuses on the present and how to live with the wounds still open.

The soundtrack, composed by Vetusta Morla , adds a layer of emotional depth. Its sober, melancholic style accompanies without imposing, and allows the characters to breathe in each scene. This is no small detail, as the music manages to channel many of the emotions not expressed verbally.

Since its arrival on Netflix, Maixabel has become one of the most talked-about films in the catalog. Not only because of its historical relevance, but because it poses a universal question: is it possible to forgive the unforgivable?